Iron sucrose and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2022

Iron sucrose for Iron Deficiency Anemia "I have had several iron infusions in the last 7 years. Today was the first time I had Venofer. I can tell you I never want this type of iron infusion again. As I was leaving, I felt light-headed, disoriented, and thought I was going to pass out. My BP before the infusion was 113/75. Right after the infusion, it was 125/85. When they wheeled me back after the dizzy feelings, it was 136/94. They had me stand up, and my BP did not register. I had turned ashen and started sweating. They sat me down and took my BP, which had dropped to 95/50. They gave me a fluid IV, and that helped. My finger joints started hurting, and my hands swelled up. The joint pain had continued up into my wrists and is now all over. I was able to drive home, but now I am crashed on the couch with diarrhea, cramping, joint pain, and shortness of breath. At the doctor's office, I was informed that they have had at least 3 other patients this week alone (today is only Tuesday) with adverse reactions to this specific drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2021

Iron sucrose for Iron Deficiency Anemia "My experience with Venofer has been a nightmare. I was scheduled for 4 infusions over a course of 2 weeks. At the time the drug was administered, I did not experience any side effects. But as it got in my system, I have had joint pain, muscle pain, back pain, overall body pain. I'm in my mid-30s and feel like I have severe arthritis. My doctor has since prescribed a steroid, which has even worse side effects, so I really wish I never had taken this drug. I did not experience this in the past with infusions (Infed). Apparently, these are common side effects and it's been 4 weeks now, and I still struggle with these joint pains. When will they go away????"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2023

Iron sucrose for Iron Deficiency Anemia "I was injected with Venofer in January this year, a day after I delivered my baby. I was told nothing of this drug, so I didn’t want it. They insisted that I get it, and since then, even now still, I have been experiencing terrible headaches, dizziness, muscle aches and joint pain, hives, edema, blurry vision, shortness of breath, excruciating pain around the injection site, and then some. I never experienced any of these symptoms before in my life, and now my body is screwed up. I don’t know for how long. Hope it goes away soon."

• Can...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2022

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I've had a few iron infusions with Venofer prior to taking Infed. With Infed, I had a horrible adverse reaction that took some time for me to realize what was happening with my body. I experienced severe muscle, joint, and nerve pain throughout my entire body. I was placed on an even worse medication (methylprednisolone) to help counter the reaction. In the aftermath, I can no longer take oral iron because of this medication. I keep having a bad reaction. I'm due for another iron infusion and am extremely nervous because of what I experienced with Infed."

• Nik...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2025

Iron sucrose for Iron Deficiency Anemia "Venofer for me caused painful spasms and redness of my hands, abdominal cramping, joint pain, and nausea. These symptoms would start within 15 to 30 minutes after the infusion ended without fail. What helped? Running the infusion twice as long, one dose every 1-2 weeks, taking Benadryl, Prednisone, Buscopan, Gravol, and Tylenol as soon as the IV is about to begin, and a follow-up dose of everything 4 to 6 hours later, REST for the rest of the day, and continue to take some Tylenol as needed for the joint pain. I tried Monoferric for the first time most recently and decided to try winging it with only Tylenol at the start of the infusion, which was run for 2 hours. No issues with my hands, did have some mild abdominal cramping and nausea afterward, but it was tolerable for the first day or two afterward. 3 days later, extreme joint pain in my knees and extreme fatigue, well more than the norm anyway. I received 1500 mg."

• Nik...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2025

Iron sucrose for Iron Deficiency Anemia "Venofer for me caused painful spasms and redness of my hands, abdominal cramping, joint pain, and nausea. These symptoms would start within 15 to 30 minutes after the infusion ended without fail. What helped? Running the infusion twice as long, one dose every 1-2 weeks, taking Benadryl, Prednisone, Buscopan, Gravol, and Tylenol as soon as the IV is about to begin, and a follow-up dose of everything 4 to 6 hours later, REST for the rest of the day, and continue to take some Tylenol as needed for the joint pain. I tried Monoferric for the first time most recently and decided to try winging it with only Tylenol at the start of the infusion, which was run for 2 hours. No issues with my hands, did have some mild abdominal cramping and nausea afterward, but it was tolerable for the first day or two afterward. 3 days later, extreme joint pain in my knees and extreme fatigue, well more than the norm anyway. I received 1500 mg."